Celebrities kick off Hope Squad journey for World Hunger Day

Celebrities kick off Hope Squad journey for World Hunger Day

Celebrities gathered in Alexandra today to join Add Hope’s Hope against Hunger challenge leading up to World Hunger Day on 28 May. Personalities including Proverb, Jonathan Boynton Lee, Dr Alex Smile, Carmel Fisher, Nicole Da Silva, DJ Sabby, Bokang Montjane Tshabalala, Danine Naidoo and newly appointed Add Hope ambassador, actor Sthembiso Khoza, donated to help feed over 120 000 children around the country, challenging others to do the same.

“Too many children are going to bed hungry and going to school hungry. We need to all be part of the fight against hunger so that we can turn things around for these children and give them a better start in life,” said Sthembiso Khoza. “Add Hope is a simple way to make a difference.”

The Hope Squad, a group of young people whose own lives have been changed by Add Hope, immersed people in virtual reality 360* experiences made at some of the 137 beneficiary organisations that Add Hope partners with around the country. Kicking off at the KFC in Alex Mall today, the team are visiting KFC restaurants around Gauteng to show people where their money goes in a fresh and unique way.

Hope Squad member Tebogo Mabye found a safe haven at Add Hope partner MES when growing up in Hillbrow. Tebogo now works for MES as a co-ordinator of the youth enrichment Programme. “Add Hope has made such a difference to my life, it’s a privilege to be part of the Hope Squad to challenge people to do more, as I know the money goes to a good place. When you give a child a meal, you tap into their heart,” says Tebogo. “You show that child that you care about them and you earn the right to influence that child. Add Hope gave MES a ticket to get into my world, so that they could understand, love and influence me. It changed my life.”

Head of Public Affairs, KFC Africa, Thabisa Mkhwanazi, says Tebogo is living proof of the real impact of Add Hope. “The impact of hunger on a child is much more than a grumbling stomach. Hunger effects how children see themselves, it impacts their self-esteem and what they feel they can accomplish. We need to work together to help children learn, grow and thrive. Every time you Add Hope, and that’s why we call it Add Hope, you actually give a child so much more than food.”

The group then visited nearby beneficiary Afrika Tikkun at its Phutadijaba centre in Alexandra to experience the impact of Add Hope for themselves.

Mkhwanazi says, “We’ve found that when people have been to a beneficiary and have seen the impact on the children, they can really understand the vital difference their donations make,” she says. “While we can’t take everyone to our Add Hope partners, we can bring the experience directly to you through the virtual reality videos. We hope that when you experience the stories, either in the stores or as a 360* video online, you are really inspired to rise to the Hope against Hunger challenge this World Hunger Day and donate," says Mkhwanazi.

Add Hope raised R39 million in 2016, with every cent of customer donations going towards feeding children. Over the past seven years, Add Hope has raised just over R387 million. Mkhwanazi says, “The R2 donations from customers, combined with our own contributions, all add up! We really appreciate these donations which have grown each year, enabling Add Hope to keep increasing the amount of children we reach. We are passionate about the cause of hunger relief across the continent and the more we can raise together, the more children we can help. That means a more positive future for all of us.”

Join the Hope Against Hunger Challenge this World Hunger Day and help Add Hope raise R3.5 million in May to feed children around the country. You can donate online at www.addhope.co.za or in any KFC restaurant in South Africa.